Main Navigation

JESUS IS REST FOR THE WEARY, HE IS HEALING FOR THE BROKENHEARTED - HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE

Rock

WHAT IS THE ROCK?

Jesus posed the following question to his disciples:

"Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon THIS ROCK I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ." Matthew 16:13-20

MISINTERPRETATIONS

There has been much misinterpretation of this passage and even entire religions have essentially been founded on men’s interpretation of what the “Rock” is that is spoken of in this passage upon which Jesus would build His church.
Without digressing into a dialogue about the various religions that have misinterpreted this passage and built entire doctrines and religions on such misinterpretations, we touch only briefly on some of the misinterpretations. Those who have come from these religions may recognize them.

Some have interpreted the passage to mean that Peter was the Rock, upon which Jesus would build His church. As such, Peter was then called to lead the church and Jesus gave him the "keys" or "authority" to lead and sit at the helm of the church. Thus, there are “popes” and “prophets” and leaders that have been established in churches with lines of succession and other means of claimed passing of “authority” to be God’s representatives on earth that we must follow and give heed to in order to receive eternal life.

Some have also claimed that Peter's declaration is a personal “testimony” that we receive by our feelings and once we have received this personal “witness” of feeling about the church in question, we know that we have found the true church.

As sincere as these religions that are based on these misinterpretations probably are, it is important to look to the Word to see what the truth really is. For Jesus declared that the Word of God is Truth (John 17:17). Thus, the Word - the Bible (the words of Jesus, His apostles, and God's prophets of the Old Testament) - is the standard by which we should test and gauge everything. So, let’s take a closer look and see what the bible as a whole clearly testifies and declares the Rock to be.

CHRIST IS THE ROCK!

Numerous passages from both the New and Old Testaments make crystal clear that it is Jesus Christ Himself to which Jesus was referring. The Rock is not revelation, it is not Peter, it is not "priesthood" authority, it is not the mantle of prophet, pope or leader of the church – THE ROCK IS CHRIST! As Peter declared, Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Christ Jesus and the fact that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, is the foundation upon which He declared he would build His church – and He declared that the Gates of Hell would never prevail against it.

HEAR WHAT THE LORD DECLARES:

For other foundation NO ONE can lay, but that which has been laid, which is Christ Jesus. (I Corinthians 3:11)

And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST. (I Corinthians 10:4).

For they stumbled on the stumbling-stone, as it is written, "Behold I lay in Sion, a stumbling-stone and a ROCK of offence: and whosoever believeth on him [Christ] shall not be ashamed." (Romans 9:33)

THE LORD IS MY ROCK, and my fortress, and my deliverer. My God, is the ROCK of refuge. Psalm 18:2, 94:22.

God was their ROCK, and the high God their redeemer. Psalm 78:35.

Unto Thee will I cry, O LORD, MY ROCK; Psalm 28:1.

Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong ROCK, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my ROCK and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. Psalm 31:2-3.

I will say unto God my ROCK, why hast Thou forgotten me? Psalm 41:l0.

Lead me to the ROCK that is higher than I. Psalms 61:2

HE ONLY is my ROCK and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In GOD is my salvation and my glory: THE ROCK of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times, ye people, Pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Psalm 62:6-8

To shew that the Lord is upright: HE IS MY ROCK, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Psalm92:15.

but the Lord is my defense; and MY GOD IS THE ROCK of my refuge. Psalm 94:22.

O Come, let us sing unto THE LORD; let us make a joyful noise to THE ROCK of our salvation. Psalm 95:1.

The stone which the builders refused is become the head of the corner. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. Psalm 118:22-23.

Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Isaiah 28:16.

Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto OUR GOD! He is THE ROCK, His work is perfect: for all his ways are judgement: Deuteronomy 32:3-4.

Then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed THE ROCK of his salvation. Deuteronomy 32:15, 18.

And he said: THE LORD IS MY ROCK, and my fortress, and my deliverer. II Samuel 22:2.

Can there be any doubt as the true meaning?

Jesus is the Rock of our Salvation. He is our foundation. He is the Christ, the Son of God.

Remember, as Jesus Himself declared:

Jesus answered, "I AM the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except THROUGH ME. John 14:6

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

I AM the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:1;9-10

Look to Jesus, receive Him, take up your Cross and follow Him and you shall have Life Everlasting!